I was recently at a function with several beauty editors when some lighthearted shop talk revealed that 60% of the group used the same skincare product regularly. Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is a serum for use morning and night (I know, it's an unhelpful name), and I have never known anyone's skin not improve after regular use. Nor have I known anyone to react badly to its super-gentle, moist-but-not-oily formula. Skin feels soft, hydrated and silky. I realised that, for all the brand new skincare products beauty editors are sent, and for all the raving about new launches our job entails, many of us remain devoted to this 30-year-old product.

It got me thinking about all the other products I rely on that perhaps no longer come with a fanfare and full-page gush in a glossy magazine, or a sexy new formula incorporating the faddy ingredient du jour. They just plough on regardless, like noble foot soldiers, looking fabulous and doing their job better than anything else. There are lots of these faithful, much-loved products in my bathroom cabinet. It was very difficult to choose just six, so I may do a follow-up column to give every one of them their proper dues.